Barcelona have reportedly placed a price tag of less than £20million on forward Memphis Depay amid transfer links with Arsenal and Newcastle United.
According to SPORT, the 28-year-old, whose contract at the Camp Nou is set to expire next year, could be allowed to leave Catalonia this summer if clubs meet their asking price of €20m (£17.1m) to fund other transfers. Barca have been heavily linked with interest in signing Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski this season and selling Depay would allow the club to fund moves to sign other transfer targets ahead of next season.
Both the Gunners and the Magpies are reportedly keen on Depay, with SPORT claiming that Depay is on a long-list of striker targets at the Emirates Stadium. GOAL have also reported that Arsenal want two forwards this summer and while Gabriel Jesus and Victor Osimhen top the priority list, Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Tammy Abraham are also on their wishlist.
The Telegraph are also reporting that Newcastle are keen on bringing in a new forward this summer and that both Depay and Everton ’s Calvert-Lewin are among their desired shortlist.
Xavi is reportedly not looking to get rid of Depay but would be open to offers if the club signed Lewandowski or can use the money to finance other moves.
Former Spain and Barca legend Xavi took charge of his former club at the start of November and has since managed them 38 times. He was unable to get Barcelona into the final of the Europa League, losing in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt. Barcelona finished second in La Liga last season.
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Between December and April, Barca went on a 15-match unbeaten run in La Liga, winning 11 of those games and taking them from eighth up to second, where they ended the season.
From when Xavi became the club’s manager, Barcelona picked up 57 points in the final 27 games of the season, with only league leaders Real Madrid (62) earning more.
For Arsenal, their double striker hunt comes with both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah on course to leave the Gunners this summer. Both have been linked with moves away.
While Newcastle ended the second half of the season in fantastic form following their January transfer business and Eddie Howe’s arrival, goals were not their strong point.
Striker Callum Wilson (eight) ended as the club’s top goalscorer last term, playing in less than half of the league games last season due to injuries.
